Trick money-box



(No Model.)

S. E. CLARK.

TRIGK MONEY BOX.

No. 460,331. Patented Sept. 29,1891.

ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMU EL E. CLARK, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

TRICK MONEY-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 460,331, dated September 29, 1891. I

Application filed June 9, 1891. erial No. 395,626. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL E. CLARK, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usef ul Improvement in Trick Money-Boxes, which improvement is fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawings.

My invention consists of an improvement in a money-box adapted to receive a coin, when by the proper manipulation of a certain part of the box said coin may be secretly removed or discharged. For this purpose I employ a tube, a movable sleeve encircling the same, and a spring for returning the sleeve to its normal position, said sleeve and tube having a slot and a throat in the respective sides thereof, the same being adapted to be placed in and out of communication by the movement of the sleeve, one end of the tube having a slotted cap and the other end having a closing base, Within which cap and base the opposite ends of the sleeve are adapted to move, the operation being hereinafter set forth. I

Figures 1 and? represent perspective views of a trick money-box embodying my invention. Fig. 3 represents a longitudinal section thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a I tube or cylinder whose ends are secured to the slotted cap B and closed base 0. Encircling the tube is a sliding sleeve D, whose ends are freely fitted within the cap and base B 0, whereby said sleeve is retained in position and guided in its sliding motions. 111 the bottom of the tube is a plug E, whose upper face is slanting or inclined, and in said tube at the side of the lower end of said inclined face is a slot F, which forms an outlet for said tube. 111 the sleeve D, near the lower end thereof, is a throat G, which, when in normal position, is removed from the slot F, but which, when the sleeve is properly moved, may be placed in registration with said slot, whereby the latter as an outlet is uncovered. Between the cap B and adjacent end of the sleeve D is a spring H, whose tendency is to force said sleeve toward the base 0 andcover the slot F. The cap and base have two diameters, the ends of the tube being firmlysecured to said parts within the smaller-diameter thereof; The larger diameters permit the free movements of the ends of the sleeve therein, while the smaller diameter of the cap provides a chamber for the spring H. In the lower end of the sleeve is alongitudinally-extending slot J, into which freely enters a pin or stud K on the tube A. By this provision the sleeve is prevented from rotation, while the sliding motions are not interfered with.

The operation is as follows: TheboX is held in such manner that the throat G is toward the palm of the hand and the fingers are adjacent to a bead L on the sleeve. The box is presented to a party and a coin solicited therefrom, the same then being dropped into the boX through the slot in the cap. The holder now quietly and quickly presses his fingers against the bead L, whereby motion, scarcely perceptible, is imparted to the sleeve, and the throat G is placed in communication with the slot F, the coin then being directed by the slant face of the bottom of the tube through said slot and throat into the palm of the holder. The sleeve is then let go, whereby it resumes its normal position and the slot is closed, the throat being covered by the side of the base and consequently concealed. The box may now be examined by others and shaken or rattled without noise therein, the disappearance of the coin being unaccountable, excepting, of course, to the previous holder of the box. The two diameters of the base form the shoulder M, whereby said base is vastly strengthened at the place of oonnection of the end of the tube A with said base. The two diameters of the cap form the shoulder N, which limits the upward or outward movement of the sleeve D, so that the throat and slot may register and also strengthen said cap within the part occupied by the spring H.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let: ters Patent, is

1. A tube connected with a slotted cap and shouldered base, a sliding sleeve encircling said tube, and a closingspring bearing against said sleeve, said tube having a bottom and slot in its side adjacent to said bottom, and said sleeve havingathroat which is primarily concealed by the cap and may be placed in ICO communication with said slot of the tube,the

parts named being combined substantially as described. 7

2. A tube having a slotted cap and closed 5 base connected therewith and a slot in its side, a sliding sleeve encircling said tube, having a throat in its side and a slot in its end,

a closing-spring bearing against said sleeve,

and a pin projecting from the tube freely en.-

10 tering the end slot of the sleeve, said tube having a bottom Whose upper face is adjacent to thesideslot thereof,substantially as described.

3. A tube, an encircling sliding sleeve, a cap SAMUEL E. CLARK. Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, A. P. JENNINGS. 

